Tracy eyes Daytona deal

The 2003 Champ Car titlist tested the team's Doran Pontiac JE-4 Daytona Prototype at Homestead this week and team boss Jim Bell is keen to fit the Canadian into his driver line-up.

Bell, whose team ran the winning car in the 2004 Daytona 24 Hours, explained that Tracy is a friend of car-owner Forrest Barber, who will also drive at Daytona. "At the moment anything is possible," said Bell, "but we would obviously love to have Paul in one of our cars."

After his test Tracy commented: "I'm happy to have the opportunity to drive for Bell Motorsports and come out here and see what this is all about and get used to the car. I think I did about 25 laps. This is the first time for me really driving with a roof over my head and a windshield inside a closed-cockpit car. It's fun to drive and it's fun driving a car again."

He also revealed that he has long hankered after a chance to do some endurance racing. "It's always been a goal of mine to do some long distance races," he said.

"The opportunity this year has presented itself with the team that won at Daytona last year. You couldn't be on a better team. My main focus is to get some miles in the car and have some fun doing it."